Brake mechanism



w. J. ANDRES BRAKE MECHANISM April 9, 1929.

Filed May 25, 1925.

3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTY W. J. ANDRES RAKE MECHANISM Filed May 25, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1/? V6)? for WAN/W d fl/vamw P 1929 I w. J. ANDRES I Efifififlfi? BRAKE MECHANISM Filed May 25, 1925 '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 L/A/vi Jams-s substantial novelty.

patented Apr, 9

WILLIAIE J. ANDRES, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ASSIG-NUR Tl?) IBENDTX IPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A COR-PURATION 01E ILLTHQTS.

BRAKE MECHANISM.

Application filed May This invention relates to brakes, and is illustrated as embodied in an automobile chassis having brakes on all four wheels,

An important object of the invention is to novide reliable and inexpensive operating connectionsfor a brake on a ,swivelled wheel by the use of a member, shown as a cable or equivalent tension element, rocking a brakeapplying arm or other part, preferably rearwardlyin a substantially horizontal plane from an idle position spaced from the swivelline axis of the wheel to a position substantially in thatiaxis. This permits the use of operating connections for a front brake which are just as simple and elhcient as the usual connectionsfor a rear brake.

Another very important feature of the invention relates to mounting the cam or other brake-operatingdevice for movement about an axis extending radially ofthe wheel, instead of in the usual manner for movement about an axis parallel to the wheel axis. {This permits a much simpler and more compact adjustment and, while not necessarily limited to such use,'is especially desirable in a front wheel brake operated by a swinging arm such as described above. Preferably means is provided for adjusting the relative angular positions of the cam and its arm, the particular adjusting means shown embodying in itself Regarding the novel brake from the point of view of use for a wheel swivelling for steerinn" movement, ll consider it highly desirable that the connections be arranged to vary the operation of the brake when the wheel is swivelled, as, for example, by releasing the brake when-the wheel is on the outside of. a turn. Accordingly, various features of the invention relate to arranging the parts of a brake of the type described above in such a manner with respect to the swivelling axis as to secure the desired variation in the braking. In arranging the particular brake shown on the drawings to release when on the outside of a turn the point ofengagement between the brake-operating arm andits cable when in active position is on the opposite side of the swivelling axis from the wheel, so that the swivelling of the wheel swings the arm in a direction to slacken the cable.

Other objects and features of the invention, including various novel combinations of parts and desirable particular constructions, will be apparent from the" following description of 1925.- Serial No. 32,331.

one illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of anautomobile chassis having brakes on all four of the wheels;

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2+2 of Figure 1 just inside one wheel and showing the brake shoes in side elevation;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the brake detached from its wheel and partly broken away to show the cain-operating means;

Figure t is a section on the line It-lot Figure 2 showing one front brake in Wertical section;

V Figure 5 is a detail view showing in bottom plan the brake-operating arm;

Figure 6 is a diagram corresponding to a top plan view of the two front wheels and illustrating the release of the outer brake on aturn;and

Figure 7 is a view corresponding to part of Figure 1, but showing the leittront brake applied, and broken away to show the brake shoes as in Figure 3.. I

In the particular arrangement selected for illustration, the invention is shown embodied in an automobile chassis including achassis frame 10, supported by the usual springs 12 on a rear axle 14, and on front axle 16. The rear axle 14 is supported by the rear-road wheels 18, each of which is provided with a brake 20, the two brakes being operated by links 22 extending rearwardly from a rock shaft 24, operated either by an emergency brake lever 26 or by a service brake pedal 28. The pedal 28 is also arranged to rock a shaft 30 connected by cables or the like 32 to the brakes 34 for the front wheels 36 rotatably mounted on knuckles 38, swivelled by the usual king pins 31 at the ends of the front axle 16. The cables 32 or the like may be supported by idler arms 40 or by pulleys or. the like on the chassis frame 10 opposite the rear ends'of the front springs so that the front portions er the cables are practically unaffected by movement of the springs.

Each of the brakes is illustrated as including a suitable drum or equivalent friction m'cmber 42 rotating with the wheel, and arranged to co-operate with retarding means supported by the swivelled knuckle 38 and illustrated as a 3-shoe brake of the Bendix type. This brake includes a reverse shoe 44 anchored on' the backing plate 46 at 48, and a forward shoe 50 anchored at 52 and operated lull large openingin forked arms constituting,

continuations of the web of shoe 44, which, arms straddle the ends of the -web of the shoe 50. v 7

According to an important feature of the invention, the shoes 44 and 54, or their equivalents, are spread against the drum by rocking a double cam 60, or equivalent spreading device, about an axis extending radially of the drum between the ends of the shoes, the cam preferably engaging steel wear-plates 62 on the ends of the brake shoes. The cam' is engagement L between each cable and: ever f arm shown as supported by a spindle journaled in the upper and lower supportsl64 and 66 secured in any-desired manner to the backing plate46fo Secured to the cam or its spindle is a mem ber 68 in which is adjustably mounted a set screw 70 engaging a lug 7 2 formed onra camoperating .arm 74 loosely sleeved .on the spin, dleof the cam and'extending through an opening 76 in the backing plate 46. j

The end of-the horizontal arin 74 which is engaged by the end of the cable 32 is movable from an idle position shown mwhich the end part of the lever substantial distance from the swivelling' axis of the wheel, to an active position shown in Figure 7, in which the brakes'are applied and in which this part of the lever is in or immediately adjacent the swivelling axis of the wheel. This provides a very simple operate igure 3, in

of the set screw 70 and which does not in any way interfere 'with the swivelling of the wheels,

I prefer .to arrange the above described parts so that-the outer brake is. released in shall be no equalization between the two front brakes, each of which-is connected separately by its cabl,e"32 to an operating arm on shaft 30, and by'so arranging the point of engagemen-t between the. cable 32and the end part of the arm 7 4 that in its 0 the swivelling axis as to secure thej desiredvariation. As

cally indicated by the lines C, and the outer rake is to be released on a-turn, the p 'nt of.

4 should be on the opposite side of the king pin K from the wheel,I-that is, on the inside of the king pin. Figure 6 represents diagrammatically a top plan view of the two swivelling axes, i. e.

. the position L move from L to L? on the cable and tighten the inner brake.

' myintention to limit its rl claimz is spaced a i knuckle and swinging ing connection readily adjustable by means- 'said'axis,

1 means. roundinga corner by providing thatthereactive position thispoint engagement is so arrang'ed with respect to"- illustrated in Figure-6,1when v the brakes are applied by cables, dlagrammatimounted 'ona swivelled front of the vehicle atthe top ofthe figure. If now the positions of the wheels when the vehicle is moving straight ahead is indi; I

cated diagrammatically bye-the lines'W Pill, 70 allel to the wheels, but passing-through the p the axes of the'kin: pins, 4 K, and if the wheelsare swivelled to t ie'positions W, to turn a corner. to the right, obviously the left-hand point L1 tends to be swung by the knuckle to-the position L, while the right-hand pointL tends to move'to Since the cables 32 are-under tension when the brakesare applied, the movement of the outer lever 7 4 from L to L 80 will slacken its cable andrelease its brake, while the tendency'of the right hand lever-to will increase the tension While one illustrative embodiment'of myinvention has been described indetail, it is not scope to that particular embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claimfsfl 1 1 a 1. Brake mechanism for'a" wheel 'rotatably mounted on a swivelledknuckle and comprising, in combination, retarding ineans swivelling with the knuckle, a. member swivelling with the knuck and movable in-an'approxi-q '95 mately horizontal planetooperate the retard-i ing means-and having a partmoving from a position spaced fron'tth swivelling axis to-; r wa'rd's'aid axis, and o crating co'nnec'tionsengaging saidpart of t e member toapply the retarding means.

. 2. Brake mechanism for a wheel rotatably mounted on'a swiv'elledk'nuckle and compris- .ing in combination, retarding means swivel ling with the knuckle,

in an approximately horizontal plane-to operate the retarding means and having a part moving from a position spaced from the swivelling-axisgtoward and operating connections engaging said part of the arm to apply'the retarding,- 3. Brake mechanism for a Wheel rotatably. mounted on a swivelled knuckle and comprising, in combination, retarding means swi-velling with the knuckle, an arm swinging in an approximately horizontal planeto operate the netarding means and having .a part moving from a position spaced from the'swivu-s'ting the angular position assumed by the arm when the retarding means is applied.

4. Brake mechanism for a wheel rotatably knuckle and comprising, in combination, retarding means swivelling with the knuckle, a member car- T ried by the knuckle 'and'arranged to apply the retarding means and movable from an an arm carried by the meagre? v idle position which'a partis spaced for wa'rdly of the 'swivelling'axis to an activeposition adjacent said axis, and means-en- .-.ga'g1ng said part of the member to move it -5 ;-from idleto active position;

* 5. Brake mechanism-for a wheel rotatably mounted on a 'swivelled knuckle and comprising, 1n combinatiomfretarding means 6. Brake mechanism for ai-wlieel-rotatably; mounted on a swivelledknu'ckle and com'-- prising, in combinatiom 'retarding means swivelling with the knuckle, a member" ar-. ranged to apply the retarding means and movable from an idle positionin wich a part isspaced forwardly of the swive w; ams to an active position adjacent said axis, means engaging'said part of the member to move it from idle to active position, and means for adjusting the angular position of-the arm when in activeposition. V 7. Brake mechani'smior a wheel rotatably mounted on a swivelled knuckle and comprising, in combinatiomretarding means swivelling with the knuckle, a part swivelling withthe knuckle and arranged to apply the retarding means and'movable fi'om the idle posi tion spaced from the swiveg axis toward. said am's, and a tension element connected to said part to operate it to apply the retarding means.

8. Brake mechanism for a wheel-rotatably mounted on a swivelled buckle and compris ing, in combination, retarding meansswivelling with the lmuckle, a part swivelling with the knuckle and arranged to apply the retarding means and movable from idle position spaced from the swivellingaxis toward said axis, and a flexible. cable connected to said partto operate it to apply'the retardmg means, I 1 r 9. Brake mechanism'for a wheel rotatably mounted on a swivelled lmuckle and-comprising, .incombination, retarding means swivelling with the. knuckle, a part swivelling with the knuckle and arranged to apply the .re: tarding means and movable from an'idle posi- "tion spaced forwardly fi'om the swivelling .mounted onaswivelled knuckle and compr1s axis rearwardly toward said axis, and a rear- 7 weirdly-extending tension element connected to said part and operativeto'apply the' retarding means; v V p 10. Brake mechanism for a wheel rotatably mounted on a swivelled huokle and compris- ;;ing, ig 1combination, retarding means swivelling with the knuckle,"an arm swivelling with yending tension element connected to said part of thearm.

the knuckle and arranged to apply the re- '65 tarding means and having a part movable from an idle positionspaced forwardly'of thestee'ring axis toward said axis,"and a rear for a wheel rotatably mounted on a swivel-led knuckle and. comprising, in combination, retarding -means swivclling' with the knuckle, an arm swinging in a generallyhorizontal plane to apply the retarding means and having a part movable from an idle position spaced forwardly of the steering axis toward said axis, a rearwardly extending tension elementconnected 11. Brake mechan'sm' to said part of the arm, and means for adjusting theangularposition of the arm in active position.

v12. Brake mechanism for aiwheel rotatably mounted on a swivelled knuckle and comprising, in combination, retardin means swivelli-ng with'the knuckle, a device or operfating the retarding means which is movable about an axis generally radial with respect.

to the Wheel, a memb'en 'for rocking said device about. its radial axis having a part movable from. an idle position spaced fromv the swivelling axis toward said axis, and 1 means engaging said part of the member to move it from idle tonotive position.- "13.:Brake mechanism for a wheel ably mounted ona swivelled knuckle and comprising, in combination, brake shoes swivelling with th knuckle, a device for spreading the'brake shoes apart to brake the Wheel and which is movable about an axis, loo

7 generally radial with; respect-to the wheel, a

member for rocking said device about its radial axis and-having a part movable from an idle position spaced from the swivellmg ,axis toward said axis, and means engaging said partof the member to move it from idle to activeposition. 14, Brake mechanism for a wheel rotatably mounted on a swivel-led knuckle' and comprising, in combination, brake shoes 11o swivelling withthe knuckle, a cam between the ends of the shoes movable about an axis extending radially of the. Wheel, an arm for rocking the-cam having a part movable from an idle position spaced from'the swivelllng axis toward said axis, means'engaging said part of the arm'ior moving it from idle'to 7 active position, and 'means for adjusting the relative angular positions of the cam and arm.

15. Brake mechanism for-awheel rotatably 12o radially of the wheel, an armifor rocking {the cam having a part movable from an'idle position spaced" from the swivelling am's toward said" axis, means engaging sald part rotat 95 of the arm fb'i moving it from idle to active position, and means foradjusting the relative angular positions of the cam and arm.

16:? Brake mechanism for a wheel. rotatably mounted on a swivelled knuckle and comprising, in combination, brake shoes swivelling with the knuckle, a' cam between the ends of the shoes movable about-an axis extending radially of the wheel,-and means form cking-the cam about said radial axis to apply the shoes without interfering with swivelling of the knuckle.

17 Brake mechanism comprising, in combination, a drum, shoes anchored within the drum, a double cambetween the free ends of the shoes, a laterally-extending arm for rocking the cam about an axis radially of the drum, and means for adjusting the relative angular positions of the cam and arm.

18. Brake mechanism for a Wheel rotatably' mountedon aswivelled knuckle and comprising, in combination, retarding means swivelling with the knuckle, an arm ar- "ranged in a generally horizontal planeto apply the retarding means and having a part movable towards the swivelling axis from anidle position spaced from said axis, and

means engaging said part-to mpve it to ac- 'tive position, the point of engagement between said means and said part in active position; being so arranged with respect to the swivelling axis as to vary the action of the retarding means when the wheel is swivelled.

19. Brake mechanism for a wheel rotatably mounted on a swivelled knuckle and compris- .ing, in combination, retarding means swivelling with the knuckle, an arm arranged in a gene ally horizontal plane to apply the re .tar ing means and having a part movable toward the swivelling axis from an idle posi tion spaced from said axis, and means en-. gaging said part to move it to active positlon,

the-point of engagement between said means ling with the knuckle, a member arranged'to operate-the retarding means: and having a part movable rearwardly towardthe swivelling axis from an idle position forwardly of the axis, and means engaging said part to v move the memberto active po'sition,the point 'ofeng'agement of said means and said part inactive position being so arranged with reis swivelled. 21. Brake spect to the swivelling axis as to vary the action of the retarding means-when the wheel mechanism for a wheel rotatably v j mounted on a-swivelled knuckle and comprise ing, in combination, r'etardin means swiveloperate the retarding means and having a .part movable rearwardly towards the swivel- -ling axis from an idle posit-ion forwardly of the axis, and a tension element engaging said part to pull the member rearwardly to active position, the point of engagement of said.

element and said part in active position being I arranged at one side of the swivelling axis so. as to vary the action of the retarding means when thewheel is swivelled.

22. Brake mechanism for a wheel rotatably v mounted on a swivelled knuckle and comprising, in combination, retardin means swivelling with the knuckle, a memher arranged to operate the retarding means and having a part movable rearwardly towards the swivelling axis from an idle position forwardly swivelling axis from the wheel.

23. Operatlng means for a brake on a SWIV- 1 eled wheel comprising a generally horizontal lever: swiveling with the wheel and having its endswinging toward the swiveling axis of the wheel, in applying the brake, on a generally horizontal-arc, in combination with a tension operating element connected to said end of the lever.

I e 24. Brake mechanism fora swiveled wheel comprising, 1n combinatlon, a' drum rotating with the wheel, a backing plate at the open side of the drum, friction means within the drum, and a generally-horizontal lever arranged to apply the friction means and which is pivotally supported by the backing plate v and which extends across the plane of the backing plate so that one end is'between the drum and backing plate and the other end" horizontal arc toward the swiveling. axis of is outside the backing plate and swings in a the wheel in applying the brake, together with operating means acting on said other end of the lever.

ing, in combination, a drum rotating with the wheel, a backing plate at the open side. of thedrum, friction means within the drum,

and agenerally-horizontal lever arranged to 25. Brake mechanism for a wheel compris- I apply the friction 'means and which is pivots ally fsupported by the backing plate and;

'ing plate so that one end is betweenthedriim which extends: across the planef'of the backand backingi lplate and the other end is out-- side the bac end of the lever.

'ngplate and swings in a hori-' zo'ntal arc in applymg the brake, together with operating means acting on said other v tating with thejwheel, a'backing plate at the j bag with the knuckle, a mem er arranged to open side of the drum-,',friction means within the drum, and a generally-horizontal lever arranged to apply the friction means and which extends across the plane of the backing plate so that one end is between the drum and backing plate and the other end is outside the backing plate and swings in a horizontal arc toward said swiveling axis of the wheel in applying the brake, together with operating means acting on said other end of the lever.

27. Brake mechanism for a wheel comprising, in combination, a drum rotating with the wheel, a backing plate at the open side of the drum, friction means within the drum, and a generally-hoi-izontal lever arranged to apply the friction means and which extends across the plane of the backing plate so that one end is between the drmn and backing plate and the other end is outside the backing plate and swings in a horizontal arc in applying the brake, together with operating means acting on said other end of the lever.

28. Brake mechanism for a swiveled wheel comprising, in combination, a drum rotating with the wheel, a backing plate at the open side of the drum, friction means within-the signed my name.

WILLIAM J. ANDRES.

extends across the plane of the backing plate so that one end is between the drum and backing plate and the other end'is outside the i backing plate and swings in an arc toward the swiveling axis of the wheel in applying the brake, together with operating means acting on said other end of the lever.

29. Brake mechanism comprising, in combination, a rotatable drum, a backing plate at the open side of the drum, friction means within the drum, and a lever arranged to apply the drum and which is supported by the backing plate and which extends across the plane of the backing plate so that one end is between the drum and backing plate and the other end is outside the backing plate and swings in an arc in applying the brake, together with operating means acting on said other end of the lever.

I In testimony whereof I have hereunto msoaaurwER 1,708,167.-W'tlltam J. Andres,

dated April 9, 1929. Bendix Brake Gompa'ny.

South Bend, Ind. 'BRAKE MECHANISM. Patent isc-laimer filed September 24, 1938, by the asslgnee,

Hereby enters this disclaimer of claim 1 of said patent.

[Ofictal Gazette October 18, 1 938.] 

